Interstate 70 Accidents

Every time we get into a car we face a risk of suffering injuries in a crash, but studies show that Missouri residents face a statistically greater risk than those in other states, with a 30% higher chance of fatalities on Missouri roadways—particularly those navigating Missouri’s I-70. Interstate 70 is one of the nation’s longest highways, spanning 2,151 miles. As I-70 passes through Missouri, it crosses the state in a 250-mile span, including major urban areas from Kansas City to St. Louis.

Missouri residents want to know, “What makes Missouri’s I-70 so dangerous and what are the state’s plans to improve safety for Missouri drivers and visitors to the state?”

Missouri Interstate 70 Accident Statistics

In May of 2022, I-70 earned a ranking as one of the country’s most dangerous intersections. I-70’s startling accident statistics are as follows:

• Interstate 70 is the ninth most dangerous interstate in the country
• There were 134 fatalities on I-70 in 2020
• I-70 has a crash rate that exceeds the rate on other divided highways in Missouri
• About 24% of accidents on I-70 during a two-year study period involved injuries and 1% involved fatalities
• Accidents on I-70 occur nearly twice as often as on similar roadways in Missouri
• There were 574 car accidents on eight segments of I-70 during the two-year study period
• A total of 5,857 accidents occurred on I-70 between 2003 and 2007 with 20 fatalities
• About 30% of I-70 accidents occur during peak driving periods on weekdays
• Most accidents that occur on Missouri’s portion of I-70 happen in Kansas City and St. Louis

Studies of car accident data on Missouri’s Interstate 70 continue as the state launches plans for improvements.

Recent Interstate 70 Car Accidents in Missouri

On July 9th, Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a fatality near I-70 mile marker 117.4. The accident occurred when a Freightliner tractor-trailer truck slowed to a stop due to a previous accident and a driver collided with the rear of the trailer, lodging under the trailer in an underride accident.

A fatal rollover crash occurred on Missouri’s I-70 on June 2nd when a speeding driver caused a three-car pileup collision. The fatality occurred to the driver of a vehicle that rolled after sustaining a hit by the speeding driver. This was the 45th accident fatality of 2024 compared to 32 crashes on I-70 by the same date the previous year.

In May, a car-hauler tractor-trailer truck crashed on I-70 near mile marker 153, causing the hauled vehicles to spill onto the roadway and block traffic in both directions. Multiple motorists suffered injuries.

Missouri Plans to Expand Traffic Lanes to Improve I-70 Safety

Missouri has a multi-stage plan to improve safety on Missouri’s section of Interstate 70. The biggest planned improvement is the addition of a third lane in both directions, upgrading the highway from a four-lane divided highway to a six-lane highway. The plan also includes upgrades to bridges as well as re-pavement in many sections. Interchanges between I-70 and other roadways also have improvements scheduled. The plan should result in significant safety improvements in most sections by 2028.

How Can a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney Help?

When you or a loved one have suffered injuries or a fatality in a car accident in Missouri, you deserve experienced legal representation to argue assertively for your rights and best interests throughout the process of your accident claim. Careless drivers, negligent roadway planning agencies, and road maintenance departments that fail in their responsibility to adequately address road hazards have financial accountability when their negligence results in an accident.

Call Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law for the St. Louis car accident lawyers who put clients first and strategize the best possible outcome for every unique case.